Under the arrangement Looe Town Council will employ library staff and own and maintain its building, while Cornwall Council continues to provide the book stock and IT systems to enable county-wide access.

The arrangement which is part of Cornwall Council’s devolution programme means the Library and Information Service at the Millpool will continue to provide all the key services essential to a modern library, as well as access to a range of Cornwall Council services.

Following the transfer Looe Library and Information Service will remain part of the countywide library service meaning that customers can keep their existing library cards and will still be able to visit, borrow and order books online from other libraries in Cornwall. There will be no change to the service provided to customers.

As part of the arrangement, Cornwall Council will continue to provide and maintain the library’s public computers and resources, including replenishing books.

Armand Toms, Mayor of Looe, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to secure Looe library’s future for the community. It is really positive that Looe Town Council has been able to work in partnership with Cornwall Council to develop this innovative solution. We look forward to welcoming our library users both old and new and I am sure we will make it an outstanding success.’’

Edwina Hannaford, Cornwall Council Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “We have been working closely with town and parish councils and community groups to find the best custodians for local libraries through our Library Transformation Programme.

“Our aim has always been to work with partners and communities to create sustainable services aligned to local needs. As a result of our agreement with Looe Town Council, local residents will be able to continue enjoying their library for many years to come.”

The Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site Office has been invited by the Korean National Commission for UNESCO to take part in a global event to celebrate International Mother Language Day today.

The celebration is part of UNESCO’s International Year of Indigenous Languages.

The Korean National Commission are launching an online project to gather recordings of extracts from “The Little Prince” read aloud in as many of the world’s languages as possible.

The Little Prince is a novella first published in April 1943, the most famous work of French aristocrat, writer, poet, and pioneering aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

It is philosophical tale, with humanist values, shared from one generation to another for more than 75 years.

The story transcends borders; The Little Prince is a sustainable development icon, a World Peace actor, and a childhood Rights ambassador. His character the little prince is as wise as they come, and his messages of compassion and goodwill continue to endure.

The novella has been voted the best book of the 20th century in France. Translated into 300 languages and dialects, including Kernewek; Cornish Language. Selling nearly two million copies annually, and with sales of over 200 million copies worldwide, it has become one of the best-selling and most translated books ever published.

Working closely with Cornwall Council’s Language Lead, the World Heritage Site Office was able to submit two recordings of The Little Prince in Kernewek; Cornish Language.

We were lucky enough to have Taran Spalding-Jenkin otherwise known as “The Cornish Writer”; a local spoken word poet and storyteller submit a reading.

We were also thrilled to have a recording made by Edward Rowe; who the World Heritage Office has had the pleasure of working with on a number of projects including the recent production of Hireth in St Just Miner’s Chapel.

Ed (pictured above) took time out of his busy schedule, which has recently included travelling to Berlin Film Festival for the World Premiere of the critically acclaimed film “Bait”, in which he stars.

Mark Trevethan, The Cornish Language Lead for Cornwall Council said of the project; “The Little Prince was translated into Cornish a few years ago and it’s fantastic to be able to use the translation to join up with over 300 languages from around the world. UNESCO’s International Year of Indigenous Languages 2019 is a great way to raise awareness of endangered languages such as Cornish and for people around the world to hear our language.”

The website, which will be launched on the 21st of February includes recordings from all over the world and all spoken languages, including indigenous languages,

This celebration of Global language culture is a great example of what opportunities our World Heritage Status and relationship with UNESCO brings to Cornwall.

Julian German, Deputy Leader of Cornwall Council and Chairman of the World Heritage Site Partnership Board, said; “As a Kernewek speaker and supporter of our language I am thrilled to hear that the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site status has allowed us the opportunity to celebrate our own indigenous language at a global level.

"Our language is an important part of Cornish culture and heritage, something that I am thrilled we will be celebrating as part of International Mother Language Day and UNESCO’s International Year of Indigenous Languages 2019.”

The first Cornwall Council car park to move over to pay on exit will be officially opened in Penzance on Wednesday 27 February.

The Harbour car park in Penzance is the first of twelve car parks in eight towns that are being moved over to pay on exit technology as part of the Council’s Positive Parking Framework.

Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for transport, Geoff Brown, said the move to pay on exit would make it easier for customers as well as support local economies.

“Pay on exit parking has been shown to encourage people to stay longer in town centres as they don’t have to rush back to their car when their car parking ticket is running out.

“It also means civil enforcement officers (CEOs) will not be tied up having to check pay and display tickets. This frees them up to do more work taking action where cars are parked illegally – which we know frustrates residents.”

“Free evening parking in most Cornwall Council car parks will continue and has helped support local evening economies. We’ll also be continuing with flexible pay and park options during the day time, such as being able to buy batches of reduced rate parking sessions via the JustPark telephone payment and offering seasonal permits at a reduced rate.”

Jim McKenna, Cornwall Councillor Penzance Promenade said: "The introduction of ‘Pay on Exit’ for the Wharfside car park, the Council’s first in Cornwall, is great news for Penzance and has been requested by many businesses in the town. Evidence collected from elsewhere in the country last year, by the Positive Parking Panel on which I sit, indicates that people using them tend to stay longer, thus increasing car park income without having to raise hourly rates. The recommendations of the Parking Panel, combined with a collaborative approach from Cornwall Council officers and Councillor Geoff Brown when working with Penzance Town Council, the BID, Chamber of Commerce and Penzance Regeneration Board, mean that from April, Penzance will have much more competitive car parking charges. This in turn will hopefully see more people paying less to park."

Tim Dwelly, Cornwall Councillor for Penzance East said: "This is good news on many fronts. Visitors will stay for longer visiting the high street and enforcement officers will be able to spend more time in Penzance back streets. Best of all, the new 96p per day resident batch price for Harbour Car Park will work with Pay on Exit seamlessly. That means more people who work in town parking in the Harbour car park instead of in residential streets."

Work is now being carried out at the twelve car parks to enable the installation of the pay one exit technology. Pay on exit means that the motorist takes a ticket at the barrier when entering the car park, pays at the machine when ready to leave and then inserts the ticket via the exit barrier. There will be some disruption while the works at the car parks take place and some of the car parks will be closed or operating at reduced capacity before reopening as pay on exit.

All 12 car parks will be changed over to pay on exit and open by Easter 2019.

The car parks are:-

Town Quarry, Falmouth

Main Car Park, Fowey

Milpool, Looe

St Georges Road, Newquay

The Manor, Newquay

Link Road, Padstow

Harbour, Penzance

The Island, St. Ives

Trenwith, St Ives

Garras Wharf, Truro

Moorfield, Truro

Old Bridge Street, Truro

Cornwall’s Positive Parking Framework is set to be a benchmark standard for local authorities who, like Cornwall Council, have aligned their parking policies and operations to the Positive Parking Agenda, a national initiative supported and assisted by the British Parking Association.

As well as the introduction of Pay on Exit technology at the twelve car parks, Positive Parking Framework plans include:-

A trial to enable Care Quality Commission accredited carers to park on the street whilst providing care services to vulnerable people

A review of the role of our Civil Enforcement Officers as better use of technology means that they will be freed up to visit more areas that are not currently frequently patrolled, to ensure that traffic congestion through illegal parking is reduced.

Improved directional signage, contactless payment, discounts for residents and businesses, raising awareness of season tickets and other payment options.

Mobile camera technology to help with more efficient enforcement or targeted enforcement around schools and colleges to support reductions in traffic congestion.

Geoff Brown added: “We are investing in our car parks to improve the experience for motorists. Income from car parking is vital as it enables us to continue making the best use of our resources and target funding to help maintain Cornwall's 7,300km road network. Cornwall’s roads are some of the best in the country with the Council rated as amongst the top 25% in the country for keeping our main roads in good repair. Without the income from car parking charges, the Council would need to increase council tax to generate the same amount of funding."

“Whilst we receive about £9.7 million net income from parking each year, Cornwall Council is spending £45 million on maintaining the condition and safety of Cornwall’s roads and 2,700 bridges and retaining walls, as well as the car parks themselves.”

Budget plans to protect vital frontline services for the most vulnerable and to ensure the ongoing delivery of adult social care, fire and rescue services and waste collections will be on the agenda at next week’s full council meeting at New County Hall.

The Cabinet-approved plans for 2019/20 include a proposed 3.99% council tax increase, which would see an average Band B property increase by 88 pence per week.

The proposed 2019/20 budget will see vital services protected at a time when central government funding for the Council reduces, and includes:

an extra £17 million over the next four years to meet the increasing demand for social care for vulnerable adults

increasing funding for services for vulnerable children and families by 10%

investing an additional £30 million in our roads

putting an extra £10 million into pay packages through the council’s commitment to a genuine living wage for people in Cornwall

directly investing in homes and jobs that people in Cornwall need, with Cornwall Council being the number one area for the delivery of affordable housing

protecting evening and weekend bus services for our residents and creating one of the best integrated rural transport services in the country with smart ticketing

almost £30m investment into digital improvements and the wider roll-out of superfast broadband across Cornwall.

Since its creation in 2009, Cornwall Council has already delivered around £350 million of savings, and expects further cuts of around £70 million will still need to be delivered.

Alongside the budget, the medium term business plan and the council’s capital investment programme are also on the agenda, along with next year’s estimated revenue for the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry, and the next steps to further improve Cornwall's road network with the creation of a St Austell to A30 link road.

The council will meet at the New County Hall on Tuesday, 26 February at 10am.

Highways England is continuing its drive to improve the lives of communities across the country by today announcing a multi-million pound boost for cycling, heritage and wildlife projects along the A30 in Cornwall.

Highways England, the company responsible for managing and maintaining England’s major A roads and motorways, is pumping £27 million into Cornwall for a wide range of initiatives including a variety of new cycle paths, habitat and heritage projects.

£2 million from Cornwall Council will be added to the £17 million being invested from Highways England’s Cycling, Safety and Integration Designated Fund towards a comprehensive, high-quality off-road walking and cycling.

A further £10 million from Highways England’s Environment Designated Fund will help improve and conserve the quantity, quality and condition of valued landscape features within mid-Cornwall.

The funding will help walkers and cyclists travel safely by creating a network linking Truro, St Agnes, Perranporth and Newquay. It will also help restore internationally rare heathland habitat and Bronze Age barrows, reduce flooding and water quality issues, and enable public access to the Grade II registered Chyverton Park.

Vinita Hill, Highways England Designated Funds Director, said: “Highways England is delighted to be partnering with Cornwall Council to realise a number of environmental and cycling projects. Our designated funds programme was developed so that we can invest in projects beyond our traditional road build and maintenance, and this is a glowing example of how this funding can have a positive impact on people and communities.”

Spanning more than 30 kilometres, and starting later this year, the work will significantly improve the cycle network, increasing cycling as a method of travel to work, attract leisure and tourism trips, and contribute to healthy active lifestyles, while opening access to the countryside to be enjoyed by resident and tourist cyclists alike. The routes include:

St Agnes to Truro

Trispen to Idless

St Newlyn East to Carland Cross

Perranporth to Newquay

Sarah Newton, MP for Truro and Falmouth said: “It has been a pleasure to work with the Truro and St Agnes Cycle campaigners, led so well by Sarah and John Wetherill as well as Jamie Roberson to secure this record breaking £17 million into new cycle ways. Along with an additional £10 million for improving our heritage, natural environment and resilience for climate change we can all look forward to more easily and safely exploring Cornwall. This £27 million investment is good for the environment, good for the climate and good for our health and wellbeing.”

Cornwall Council will lead the delivery of the cycling schemes, and over the coming months will conduct surveys and collect information to develop the designs. Early engagement with landowners will be followed by public and stakeholder consultation later in the year, with the schemes due to be delivered by spring 2021.

Geoff Brown, Cornwall Council Cabinet Portfolio holder for Transport said: ‘This major funding from Highways England provides us with a wonderful opportunity to provide some great opportunities for cycling.

“The routes will complement other cycle routes and trails across Cornwall. The cycle network will reach out to towns and villages and link with where residents live and work, connecting our communities and joining up access to the services that people want and need.

“Cycling also helps address congestion and air quality issues and plays a key role in promoting a healthy life for our residents, and we look forward to working with our partners at Highways England and with the local communities, on delivering these exciting schemes.”

A total of £10 million of Environment Designated Funds will help improve and conserve the quantity, quality and condition of valued landscape features within mid-Cornwall.

Including historic assets within the Cornwall and West Devon Mining World Heritage site, the funding will help Cornwall Council and partners to build on their work around environmental growth and climate resilience, and the numerous schemes will include:

creating nature-friendly “Green Ribs” to provide improved habitat and safe corridors for wildlife in landscapes either side of the strategic road network

understanding and enhancing the area’s Bronze Age barrows and the prehistoric “landscape of ancestors” they represent,

restore and enable public access to the Grade II registered Chyverton Park.

Sue James, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for environment and public protection added: “This funding from Highways England offers an opportunity for partners to work with local communities to restore and enhance the environment, together with historic and cultural assets in mid-Cornwall.

"It will support our climate emergency plans, helping residents to reduce their dependency on car travel while supporting communities in adapting to the impacts of climate change by improving waterways and flood resilience. The schemes build on the work of local partners in Cornwall, offering benefits to residents, wildlife and visitors now and into future decades.”

The Government allocated £675 million of funds to Highways England over a five-year spending period covering 2015 to 2020.

The series of ring-fenced funds are designated to address a range of issues including Environment, Cycling, safety and integration, Air Quality and Innovation.

The cycling projects in Cornwall have been developed as part of Highways England’s cycling designated fund, and the company is working to achieve a target to deliver 150 cycling schemes by the end of Road Investment Period (2015-2020).

The ground-breaking scheme was first launched in Cornwall after the response to significant flooding and aims to educate and train young people to assist before, during and after a crisis.

The scheme was created in 2011 to give young people in the UK an opportunity to learn what to do in an emergency situation, such as severe weather.

The award scheme has since grown and is now recognised both nationally and internationally, with the scheme being used as far afield as Bangladesh.

Cornwall Council is relaunching the award with a brand new website and leaders resources to help anyone that would like to take part in the award to complete the three different levels.

The award scheme is open to all young people between the ages of 5 and 18 and uses a 3 tier system, where awards are earned at various ages.

The scheme provides encouragement by awarding certificates and badges at each level. The handbook, training material and support available on the website will allow anyone to gather the awareness and skills to prepare themselves, their family, community and neighbourhood for dealing with an emergency situation, and to respond appropriately.

Everyone participating in the Award scheme is encouraged to engage with their local community Police, Fire or other relevant emergency service, which are invariably willing to provide relevant support and information. Other organisations such as the Environment Agency and Local Authorities also provide information, support and encouragement.

Simon Mould, Head of Community Safety & Localism at Cornwall Council, said: “The Community Safety Award is a fantastic scheme which engages our younger members of our communities to be involved in building resilience in their local areas whilst achieving many personal skills, knowledge and confidence.

"We look forward to working with our partner emergency service responders in supporting this valuable scheme.”